The death toll from a brutal attack by the heavily armed Gran Grif gang on the small Haitian town of Pont-Sondé has climbed to at least 70, according to the UN human rights office. Tragically, many of the victims included women and children.
Following the grisly assault on Thursday in the Artibonite region, bodies were reported scattered across the streets, with many victims suffering fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Bertide Harace, spokeswoman for the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Awareness to Save the Artibonite, revealed to Magik 9 radio that initial estimates had reported around 20 fatalities, but further investigations by activists and officials uncovered more bodies. Among the deceased were a young mother, her newborn baby, and a midwife.
The U.N. Human Rights Office expressed horror at the attacks, stating that 10 women and three infants were among those killed, with at least 16 others seriously injured, including two gang members during a police confrontation. Reports indicate that gang members set fire to at least 45 homes and 34 vehicles during the assault.
The motive behind this massacre remains unclear, marking one of the most significant violent incidents in the region in recent years. Such attacks have typically occurred in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where 80% of the area is controlled by gangs and often relate to turf wars, with gangs targeting civilians in rival territories. However, Pont-Sondé is considered to be within Gran Grif’s own domain.
The gang emerged nearly a decade ago when former Haitian legislator Prophane Victor began arming local youth to secure his election and maintain control over the Artibonite region. Both Victor and Gran Grif’s leader, Luckson Elan, were sanctioned by the U.S. last month.
The Gran Grif gang attacked Pont-Sondé before dawn on Thursday, facing little resistance. Harace noted that despite some reports, police attempted to repel the gang, but they quickly established total control over the area.
In response to the violence, Haiti’s government has deployed an elite police unit from Port-au-Prince to Pont-Sondé and dispatched medical supplies to assist the local hospital, which has been overwhelmed by the influx of injured victims.
Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the attack, stating, “This heinous crime, perpetrated against defenseless women, men, and children, is not only an attack on these victims but on the entire Haitian nation.”
Gang violence in the Artibonite region, a crucial area for Haiti’s food production, has surged in recent years. In January 2023, the Gran Grif gang was implicated in an attack on a police station in nearby Liancourt, resulting in the deaths of at least six officers. The gang’s violence has also led to the closure of a hospital in February 2023, affecting over 700,000 people.
